Supported Interns from Stratford-upon-Avon College and Solihull College & University Centre recently came together to celebrate graduating from their course at a special event at the Stratford-upon-Avon Crowne Plaza.
After a year of working with local employers to build a range of work-based skills, the students and their families came together to recognise their achievements and to wish each other well as they progress onto a range of new adventures.
The ceremony was led by former Head of Supported Internships, Sallie Partridge, who has managed and grown the programme from its inception. Now moving on to become the College’s Additional Needs Manager, being able to present the students with their graduation scrolls was a heartwarming moment.
As well as every student receiving a graduation scroll, the department heads also had a range of extra awards to give to students including Outstanding Effort awarded to Lauren Calbreath, Improved Independence awarded to Luke Bejko, Positive Attitude awarded to Andrew Massey and Student of the Year won by Freya Oliver.
Here are a few pictures from the fantastic event.
Head of Foundation, ESOL and Community, Steve Franks, was delighted with the event and is excited for the future of the programme: “Supported Internships play a crucial role in transforming the prospects of young people with additional needs, providing them with meaningful, real-world employment experiences that build both confidence and independence. They represent an essential bridge between education and sustainable employment, enabling students to develop the skills, behaviours and resilience required to succeed in the workplace.
The progress and achievements of the College’s students on Supported Internships continue to be highly impressive. Many learners demonstrate significant growth in their communication, problem-solving and employability skills over the course of the programme. It is particularly encouraging to see students gaining increased independence and developing a strong sense of self-belief, with a number progressing into sustained employment or moving closer to achieving their long-term career goals. Their achievements reflect both their individual determination and the strength of the support structures in place.
Looking ahead, the course is developing in a very positive and ambitious direction. The introduction of a pre-internship offer at Stratford next academic year is an exciting step forward, allowing the College to better prepare learners earlier in their journey and ensure they are fully equipped to succeed when progressing onto Supported Internships. In addition, the anticipated growth of the programme into Woodlands Campus over the next one to two years represents a significant opportunity to widen participation and extend the impact of this provision to more learners across the College.
Overall, the continued evolution of the Supported Internship programme demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusive education and employment progression, and we are very optimistic about its future success and expanding reach.”
Applications are open for the brand-new Pre-Internship and Supported Internship programmes.
